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October 20, 2016

At the time of the Báb, Isfahan, a central city in Persia,
was known among cities for the great learning of its clergy. However, the first
to embrace the Cause of the Báb in that city was a man, a sifter of wheat, who,
as soon as the Call reached his ears, unreservedly accepted the Message. His
name was Mulla Muhammad Ja'far Gandum-Pak-Kun. He is mentioned in the Persian
Bayan and praised as one who "donned the robe of discipleship". With
marvelous devotion he served Mulla Husayn, and through his close association
with him became a zealous advocate of the new Revelation. A few years later,
when the soul-stirring details of the siege of the fort of Shaykh Tabarsi were
recounted to him, he felt an irresistible impulse to throw in his lot with
those heroic companions of the Báb who had risen for the defense of their
Faith. Carrying his sieve in his hand, he immediately arose and set out to
reach the scene of that memorable encounter. He joined the company of the
defenders of the Fort of Shaykh Tabarsi and perished during that siege.

"Why leave so hurriedly?" his friends asked him,
as they saw him running in a state of intense excitement through the bazaars of
Isfahan.

"I have arisen," he replied, "to join the
glorious company of the defenders of the fort of Shaykh Tabarsi! With this
sieve which I carry with me, I intend to sift the people in every city through
which I pass. Whomsoever I find ready to espouse the Cause I have embraced, I
will ask to join me and hasten forthwith to the field of martyrdom."